The Local Councils Association of Sierra Leone (LOCASL) has publicly aligned itself with Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, over governance concerns at the Freetown City Council, calling for the replacement of the Council’s Chief Administrator.

In a formal letter dated February 10, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, the President of LOCASL, Sahr A.K. Lamin, said the Association had carefully reviewed complaints raised by Mayor Aki-Sawyerr regarding the conduct of the Chief Administrator and the overall governance situation within the Council.

The letter states that the Mayor has expressed deep dissatisfaction over what she described as unilateral administrative decisions, alleged corruption, persistent insubordination, and other serious administrative actions carried out without her approval. According to LOCASL, these actions undermine the authority of the Mayor, who is the political head of the Freetown City Council.

LOCASL noted that the concerns raised by Mayor Aki-Sawyerr are consistent with earlier correspondence from the Deputy Mayor and other communications highlighting decisions taken on staffing, finance, and operations without adequate consultation with, or endorsement by, the Council’s political leadership.

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Quoting provisions of the Local Government Act, LOCASL emphasized that the Chief Administrator is accountable to the Local Council and operates under its general direction. The letter stressed that while the Chief Administrator plays a critical administrative role, policy direction rests with the elected Mayor, as provided for in law.

The Association warned that the continuation of administrative actions that disregard the authority of elected leadership risks creating uncertainty, damaging working relationships, and eroding public confidence in local governance. It also cautioned that unclear lines of responsibility could expose councils to operational confusion and reputational harm.

LOCASL President Sahr A.K. Lamin stated that effective local governance depends on cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect between political and administrative leadership. He said oversight and accountability mechanisms are most effective when they support elected authorities and preserve institutional harmony rather than foster competition.

Aligning with Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s position, LOCASL called for the replacement of the Chief Administrator to enable the Mayor to fully perform her elected responsibilities. The Association noted that the issues raised have remained unresolved for an extended period, affecting service delivery in the capital.

The letter further stated that Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s core mandate is to lead service delivery for the people of Freetown in a constructive and accountable manner, and that addressing the current governance challenges is necessary to restore confidence within the Council.

While the matter directly concerns the Freetown City Council, LOCASL said the issues have broader implications for local governance across the country and require timely intervention to prevent similar situations in other councils.

The letter was copied to the Local Government Service Commission, executive members of LOCASL, and the Mayor of Freetown City Council, underscoring the national significance of the concerns raised.

LOCASL said it offered its observations in solidarity with Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and other local council leaders, in the shared interest of strengthening transparency, accountability, and effective local governance across Sierra Leone.